Fairfield County closures due to inclement weather

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY — The Fairfield County School District announced earlier today that schools and administrative offices will be closed tomorrow (Feb. 13) due to inclement weather.

Fairfield County offices have not yet announced closures or delays. For the most up to date information, county employees need to call the work/weather hotline at 803-815-WORK (9675).

Nearly 230,000 South Carolina customers are without power as the winter storm continues to impact the region.

The Herald Independent has not received any reports of Fairfield County residents losing power. SCE&G customers need to report outages by calling (888)-333-4465. Residents can also call the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office at 8-3-635-4141.

Most of the power outages were reported in the lower parts of the state. Richland and Lexington counties reported only a few outages. Aiken County was hit the hardest, with more than 15,000 customers without power.

The number of outages is expected to rise later in the day as ice builds up on tree branches and power lines. Power loss is expected to continue as the storm settles in over the state and ice builds up on power lines.

Gov. Nikki Haley declared a state of disaster at noon Tuesday, giving emergency officials the full use of government resources.

According to the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT), a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain continues to fall and accumulate throughout the state. Upper and central areas have snow accumulation with varying amounts with sleet and freezing rain in the lower state.

Conditions of roads and bridges are covered with snow and ice. SCDOT forces are working continuously on rotating 12-hour shifts applying salt and other anti-icing/deicing materials throughout the storm.

The following values are the employees and equipment that are active, and the material already applied to the roadways.

Temperatures in Fairfield County are ranging between 28 and 36 degrees. The county is reporting a mixture of sleet, rain and freezing rain. Priority routes and bridges continue to be treated as needed with anti-icing and deicing materials and equipment. All interstates are passable.

Driving Tip

• Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.

• Be careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.

• When heading out on the roadway, ensure your cell phone is charged. Let someone know where you are going, what your travel route is and when you expect to arrive. Carry flares, blankets, small tools and a shovel. Bring water and snacks.

• Keep at least a half-tank of gas in your car at all times. Many gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps. If you have a near-empty tank during a power outage, you may lack the fuel to travel in an emergency.